PAGE 2 — THE DECREE — FEBRUARY 18,1994
Play offers bold new twists on old themes
By ALAN P. FELTON
The Elephant Man, which is
the second theatrical performance
of the season for the North Caro
lina Wesleyan Theatre Depart
ment, will be performed in the
Coltrane Theatre at 8 p.m. on Feb.
17-19 and 24-26.
The production features the
introduction of many new theater
majors to the Wesleyan audience
as well as the artistic and design
expertise of community member
Jim Singleton and Assistant Pro
fessor of Art, Everett Adelman.
The Elephant Man, directed by
Assistant Professor of Theatre
Vaughn Schutz, is a bold and
unique theatrical undertaking that
focuses on several timeless
themes that are especially perti
nent in today’s society.
The Elephant Man is the story
of John Merrick, a hideously de
formed man who is discovered in
an English workhouse and placed
with a traveling freak show.
Merrick is rescued from this
plight by a young doctor named
Frederick Treves who houses
VAUGHN SCHUTZ
Merrick in a hospital and in
troduces him to English society
with its endless rules and cus
toms.
The Elephant Man is a well
Wesleyan does share
to help environment
Universities and colleges
waste millions of gallons of wa
ter and fuel every year while pro
ducing thousands of tons of toxic
waste and carbon dioxide, envi
ronmental protection groups
charge. In fact, the average stu
dent generates about 640 pounds
of garbage a year.
Yet, there are many things that
campuses could be doing to
change their environmental poli
cies in order to reduce waste and
to encourage recycling efforts.
That’s the point of the Cam
pus Earth Summit, scheduled Feb.
18-20, at Yale University in New
Haven, Conn. Students, Faculty,
and administrators from more
than 125 campuses, including 17
foreign universities, will meet to
craft a blueprint for environmen
tal reform.
“From solid waste to radioac
tive waste, campus policies re
flect society’s poor environmen
tal practices,” said Jeff Courey,
chairman of the 1994 Campus
Earth Summit and the Yale Stu
dent Environmental Coalition,
host of the conference. “Univer
sities must lead us into the 21st
century by becoming responsible
consumers and educators.”
Here at Wesleyan, Chris
Brandt, Student Government Vice
President, hopes to initiate a cam
pus wide recycling program soon.
Currently the dorms participate
in a can recycling program.
Brandt would like to see the all
white p^r, and can recycling
program be spread campus wide.
Brandt expressed hope that
with the administration’s help the
program would be a major suc
cess. “It depends on what the
administration can do to help,”
Brandt said.
Brandt would like to see
containers for white paper, cans,
and possibly bottles in the dorms,
the administration building, and
the student union. Brandt also
suggested that if everyone would
use the voice-mail system instead
of writing memos the school
could cut a lot of waste.
There are recycling bins lo
cated at Golden East Crossing
MaU on the parking lot behind
Sears. These bins are for newspa
pers aid other recyclable mate
rial. Also at Tarrytown Mall there
is a can recycling truck stationed
in the parking lot.
known play, however Schutz has
placed many new twists in the
Wesleyan production. The entire
play is performed by a group of
circus performers, causing each
of the actors to take on two sepa
rate roles for the show.
Schutz said the circus back
drop was a natural setting for the
play because Merrick was per
ceived to be a circus freak. An
other reason for the circus setting
is that it fits in well with the over
all Brechtian style of the produc
tion, which focuses on a large,
presentational feel for the show.
Most audience members will
associate The Elephant Man with
the popular Hollywood movie,
but the play is completely differ
ent from the film version.
The most notable difference is
that the actor portraying Merrick
is not made to look like the real
Elephant Man. Schutz com
mented that his production con
tinues with the tradition of the
stage production by not using spe
cial effects on Merrick in order to
avoid distracting the audience
from the relationship between
other characters and the Elephant
Man. However, the director did
say that certain costume pieces
would be added occasionally to
the body of Merrick in keeping
with the presentational style of
Brecht.
Schutz chose The Elephant
Man because he was intrigued by
the script and because the The
atre Department strives to balance
its seasons between musicals,
comedies, and drama In addition
to fitting in well with the general
themes of the Contemporary Arts
Festival, the play explores the rea
sons people are judged by their
outer appearances.
Schutz said he has become
very interested in the so-called
outeasts of society, especially af
ter working with a homeless man
last summer, and he noted The
Elephant Man is a reflection of
society’s view of anyone who is
different.
Schutz hoped that the audience
would focus on the contrast be
tween Merrick’s outer appearance
and his true inner being and then
translate the lessons learned into
their everyday lives.
CAB CORNER...
February Overview...
Remember, February is not
over yet! There is still some
fun stuff to do!
Friday, Feb. 18: BINGO! Join
us in Doc’s for lots of fun and unique types of Bingo. See you at
9 p.m. in Doc’s.
Saturday, Feb. 19: Saturday Night Cinema presents “Poetic
Justice.” The movie will begin at 9:30 p.m. and will be shown in
Doc’s!
Friday, Feb. 25: Fantastic Friday! Tonight we will be at the
Bowling Center for bowling. Leagues play until 10 p.m., but we
can get a great discount after 10 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 26: Saturday Night Cinema presents “Leap
Of Faith.” The movie will begin at 9:30 p.m. in Doc’s.
Billy Joel? Elton John?
What would you pay to see them in concert?
The house lights dim, the introduction is said, the first
chords are played as the audience erupts into applause for
they recognize the show’s opening number, “Candle in the
Wind.” Not a sound emits from the crowd as the feeling
grows that Elton John is actually in the room.
CAB is bringing performer Carl Rosen to campus on
Wednesday, March 16. Make plans now to join us in the
SAC for this nostalgic evening of favorites from Elton John
and Billy Joel!